Derek Norris reported to spring training on Tuesday, and the questions followed him.

Norris, the veteran catcher the Detroit Tigers signed to a minor-league deal this winter, was suspended last season for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy after his ex-fiancee alleged physical and emotional abuse in a social media post that has since been deleted.

The signing was met with scrutiny. And while answering questions at Tiger Town on Wednesday, including several questions about how well the Tigers vetted the incident, Norris tried to speak about the future and deflected when asked about the past.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger," Norris said "So I think I’ve learned a lot from it but at the same time, new year, just looking to get back on that field and do the thing that I love to do and like I said, trying to break camp with the club.”

Norris, 28, denied his ex-fiancee's claims, but MLB commissioner still determined his conduct warranted discipline. He was placed on the restricted list for the final month of last season, meaning he wasn't able to play, and he was required to forfeit $100,000 of his salary to the Tampa Bay Rays, his previous team. He did not appeal his suspension.

Norris’ ex-fiancee did not file criminal charges against him, and Tigers general manager Al Avila felt comfortable enough to sign Norris based off the MLB's findings and Norris' longstanding relationship with assistant general manager David Chadd.

“(The MLB) felt that at this point, that we certainly should sign the guy,” Avila said in December. “That he was suspended, they described what the situation was and that’s the way the process should work. There was a mistake done, they investigated it and they encouraged us to do the signing because they said, ‘Hey, this guy made a mistake, he was punished for it and now he should be back at work.’”

Norris said it was “just baseball,” when asked Wednesday about the questions Chadd and the Tigers asked before signing him.

“Dave did reach out,” Norris said, “we had a conversation, everything went good and he’s part of the reason why I’m here right now.”

Norris was asked several times if the Tigers questioned him about the incident. Here are his responses:

• “I mean, like I said, just baseball. They just asked me if having the time off, if I’m ready to go and I spent a lot of my off-season working out real hard, it’s the strongest I’ve ever been, I’m feeling really good about my swing and defensively, I’m feeling really good about where I’m at and I’m looking forward to showing it in the spring.”

• “I think I just answered you. It was just all baseball.”

• “Are you going to keep asking me the same question, over and over? … I’m just here to play baseball, man. We came to an agreement about how I can help the ballclub out here and that’s why I chose here.”

In six seasons, Norris is a .230 hitter with 63 home runs. He was a National League All-Star with the Padres in 2013.

Asked about the team’s stance regarding domestic violence at the winter meetings, Avila said, “Obviously, we don’t tolerate it and obviously, if there’s a domestic violence situation, it will be investigated, in which case, it’s not only our investigation but also the Commissioner’s Office has a policy where they investigate.”

Norris: “The process has been completed, I’m just looking forward to the new year, turning the page and focus on having a good spring and trying to break camp with this upcoming ballclub and head north to Detroit.”

Reporter: What kind of an opportunity do you feel like this is here for you?

Norris: “Yeah, I think it’s a great one. I think any ballclub that is bringing a lot of non-roster invitees into camp, there’s more opportunities. Obviously, it’s a big-league ballclub still, it’s not like, ‘Hey, if you do good, you’re in,’ because there’s a bunch of good ballplayers in here, even at my position alone. But just trying to stay within myself and do what I do best and play good defense, you know, show some good leadership and just try and go learn some guys and trying to help the club as best I can.”

Reporter: “How big of a distraction has that part of it been for you and how much has it been feeling like maybe it’s been voiding you in terms of how you’ve been perceived?”

Norris: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. So I think I’ve learned a lot from it but at the same time, new year, just looking to get back on that field and do the thing that I love to do and like I said, trying to break camp with the club.”

Reporter: “You did not appeal the suspension, is there a reason why or a thought process that went into that decision to not appeal?”

Norris: “MLB completed their investigation, we fully cooperated and we’re just looking forward to getting started this year and trying to turn the page.”

Reporter: “Did you have to undergo counseling as far as the agreement with MLB after the investigation was completed?”

Norris: “I made my comments toward it. I’m just looking forward to starting it and getting it over with.”

Reporter: “Were you surprised that another team did give you an opportunity?”

Norris: “I mean, I’m a firm believer that I’ve still got a lot to offer on the baseball field. I firmly believe that I got a lot of good years still left in me and I’m looking to turn the page on what’s happened in the past and start fresh this year and show that I can still do that.”

Reporter: “Was it a situation that came up as far as a topic of discussion with teams as you were going through the off-season market?”

Norris: “It’s not really anything they talk about. It’s just all about baseball. It’s not like we sit here and talk about other things other than just baseball. So it’s just baseball-related.”

Reporter: “I know you talked about turning the page but are there some things maybe you learned about yourself through all of this that will really stick with you?”

Norris: “You learn new things every day, you name it. I learned something new today just getting out there so I think you learn stuff through the ups and downs in life, baseball and everything and it’s made me strong.”

Reporter: “(Tigers assistant general manager) David Chadd did indicate that he talked to you, you guys have a relationship, a history, that he talked to you about the situation and wanted to have some sort of level of understanding of what happened. Can you give us an idea of what that conversation was like?”

Norris: “I mean, the conversations I’ve had, me and Dave, obviously we go back years. I’ve obviously known Dave for a long time, he’s known me for a long time, we’re from the same area. So it’s not an extremely big area. Anytime you’re involved in baseball, you’re going to be close within kind of that inner circle but me and Dave did reach out, we had a conversation, everything went good and he’s part of the reason why I’m here right now.”

Reporter: “Was that the extent of the questioning from the Tigers to you about the situation? Or what was that process like?”

Norris: “I mean, like I said, just baseball. They just asked me if having the time off, if I’m ready to go and I spent a lot of my off-season working out real hard, it’s the strongest I’ve ever been, I’m feeling really good about my swing and defensively, I’m feeling really good about where I’m at and I’m looking forward to showing it in the spring.”

Reporter: “But in terms of the situation that happened, were they questioning you about what had actually transpired during that time?”

Norris: “I think I just answered you. It was just all baseball.”

Reporter: “What was the appeal for you here as opposed to maybe some other clubs?”

Norris: “Well I think you go anywhere, you’re going to have competition at this level and everyone’s going to have two, maybe even three guys that they think that are part of right now their future or upcoming years. Anywhere you go, you’re going to have an opportunity but as far as a club that’s sold off some veterans and looking for people to come in to show some leadership, and that’s why I chose here.”

Reporter: “There will inevitably be certain people who are uncomfortable with the Tigers signing you just because of the suspension. What would you tell those people?”

Norris: “That I plan on working hard and playing good baseball for this club. People are allowed to their opinions. They’re allowed to their opinions regardless of anything so it’s part of what you have to deal with and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger so I’m just going to go out there and do what I love doing and that’s playing baseball.”

Reporter: “I know you said, ‘all baseball,’ but just to be accurate here, did the Tigers question you about the situation?”

Norris: “Are you going to keep asking me the same question, over and over?”

Reporter: “Just for clarity’s sake.”

Norris: “I’m just here to play baseball, man. We came to an agreement about how I can help the ballclub out here and that’s why I chose here.”

In six seasons, Norris is a .230 hitter with 63 home runs. He was a National League All-Star with the Padres in 2013.

Asked about the team’s stance regarding domestic violence at the winter meetings, Avila said, “Obviously, we don’t tolerate it and obviously, if there’s a domestic violence situation, it will be investigated, in which case, it’s not only our investigation but also the Commissioner’s Office has a policy where they investigate.”